[Z06] coolant temp question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 33
From: Billings Montana
coolant temp question
I recently bought an 02 z06 that I have set up as a dedicated autocross car. The coolant temp runs between 220 and 235 during competition . I have no idea if this is normal for these cars. Can someone please enlighten me on this subject? TIA.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 965
Likes: 13
From: turn 12 at Road America or TX
My stock '04 runs about 195 ... haven't lived with it on 100 degree days however.
220 and up sounds a little high ... does the temp go down with the AC on and both cooling fans running?
220 and up sounds a little high ... does the temp go down with the AC on and both cooling fans running?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 239
From: Northern VA
That seems a little high but not bad during competition. These cars suck up road debris like a Hoover vac. Pull the radiator surround and check for leaves etc... in front of the radiator. I bet you'll be surprised what you find.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 411
From: Somewhere in the middle of Kansas
I had my '02 Z06 out today. It is upper 70's and the coolant temp ranged from 195 to 203 but bumped up to 208 after I floored it from 10 mph to 80 mph getting on the interstate. At cruise speed it settled back in at around 196. Your temp sounds a bit high...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 200
From: Atlanta GA
Put a 160 stat in and get someone to program the fans to come on at an earlier temperature. And of course, follow the cleaning suggestions. Also make sure front air dams is in place and not broken.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 543
From: Appleton WI
Your temps are normal. Especially during an autocross event. You can have your fans programmed to come on earlier and change the thermostat if you want. Once you heat soak the engine, it won't really matter on the thermostat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,458
Likes: 105
From: Northville Michigan
Well Gentlemen, I have been at this for 15 years and I was hoping that some of the cooling facts about C5 Corvettes would be remembered when a question come up such as Bill B 1 has posed.
1) C5 Corvettes have inadequate cooling systems for spirited or competitive driving.
If you will take a look at the radiator it is only a 1 inch core. Companies such as DeWitt Radiators and Ron Davis Racing Radiators have done a very good job of designing, building, and selling radiators that suit such fun driving. In fact, DeWitt just introduced a new cooling tube design for their "Direct Fit" radiators. I installed the first of their 2.5 inch radiators with this new tube design and significantly improved my cooling performance.
So, Bill, talk to DeWitt about one of their radiators.
2) You need to replace your factory 190 degree thermostat with one of the new MOTORAD 170 degree thermostats that Lingenfelter Performance Engineering sells.
3) While you are installing your new radiator and thermostat have your tuner reset the cooling fans so that they both come on at 196 degrees and go off at 190 degrees.
And as have been mentioned, clear the face of your radiator of all the debris and dead leaves that you will find there.
Good luck.
1) C5 Corvettes have inadequate cooling systems for spirited or competitive driving.
If you will take a look at the radiator it is only a 1 inch core. Companies such as DeWitt Radiators and Ron Davis Racing Radiators have done a very good job of designing, building, and selling radiators that suit such fun driving. In fact, DeWitt just introduced a new cooling tube design for their "Direct Fit" radiators. I installed the first of their 2.5 inch radiators with this new tube design and significantly improved my cooling performance.
So, Bill, talk to DeWitt about one of their radiators.
2) You need to replace your factory 190 degree thermostat with one of the new MOTORAD 170 degree thermostats that Lingenfelter Performance Engineering sells.
3) While you are installing your new radiator and thermostat have your tuner reset the cooling fans so that they both come on at 196 degrees and go off at 190 degrees.
And as have been mentioned, clear the face of your radiator of all the debris and dead leaves that you will find there.
Good luck.
Last edited by Pumba; May 12, 2017 at 11:13 PM.
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